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Community Corner

Rep. Sandack Responds to Third Round of Budget Bills and Revised Revenue Estimate for FY15

In Springfield today, House Democrats approved a series of budget bills that will be combined to create the Fiscal Year 2015 budget. It was the third series of budget bills considered in the last two weeks. In response to the passage of Tuesday’s budget bills, Representative Ron Sandack (R-Downers Grove) has issued the following comment:

“Today’s budget bills are no better than any of the other budget bills that have come before us this month. The process continues to lack transparency and bipartisanship.  The bills were not properly vetted, and in some cases the Republicans did not receive notification of budget meetings until after they had started. The process this year was a farce and is unworthy of the General Assembly.

“These budget bills hit our desks at 11:00 AM today and the ink isn’t even dry yet. Voting on those bills a mere four hours later is the very definition of bad process. The citizens of Illinois deserve to know ahead of time how their tax dollars are going to be spent and rushing these bills through does every Illinoisan a great disservice.

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“After unanimously agreeing that the revenue estimate for Fiscal Year 2015 was $34.495 billion, all of a sudden today the Democrats increased the revenue estimate by $857 million. Much of that increase, $650 million, relies on an inter-fund transfer of money that has to be paid back. They have artificially inflated the revenue number in their attempt to backfill the spending side of their budget. It’s reckless and irresponsible
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